Despite losing four of five starters from a team that went 21-4 and won the Monterey Bay League Gabilan Division championship last year, San Benito boys’ basketball coach David Kaplansky said there’s no reason to shy away from the lofty goal of repeating as league champs.
“The focus is always on a league title, and then see what you can do after that,” said Kaplansky, who is entering the third year of his second stint as the boys’ coach, and 10th overall.
The Haybalers open up the season against Pacific Grove on Dec. 3. “(Ultimately) my goal is to bring home a CCS championship with the boys, just like we did with the girls (in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons).”
At the high school level, the only constant is roster turnover. Coaches have to mold and shape their roster to its strengths, and Kaplansky feels this year’s group has the athleticism and length to play an up-tempo, free-flowing style featuring full-court pressure.
Kaplansky plans on going deeper into his bench than last season, when a senior-heavy starting lineup dominated the court time. The lone returning starter from last season — 6-foot-3 guard Hyram Miskin — will be a marked man every time he steps onto the floor.
That’s because the two-time All-Monterey Bay Gabilan Division First-Team selection can flat-out shoot the ball. Miskin scored 20 or more points in a game on five occasions last season, including a season-best 26 against St. Mary’s of Berkeley.
“Hyram by far is the best shooter in the league,” Kaplansky said. “At 6-3, he’s able to get his shot off against shorter defenders, and he’s been a great scorer under pressure for us.”
After serving as a backup last year, Tony Diaz will take the reins at the all-important point guard position. Diaz has excellent court awareness, and will be counted upon to get the Haybalers into their offensive sets with quickness and precision.
Guard play should be a strength of the team, as R.J. Collins and Andrew Breen look to make their presence felt. Collins is a ferocious rebounder and defender, and Breen is a solid spot-up shooter.
San Benito has another perimeter threat in forward Robbie Skinner, who possesses an accurate mid-range jumper to go along with a high basketball IQ. Skinner was one of the team’s top players off the bench last year, and his experience should serve the team well early on in the season as it tries to find a rhythm.
In sophomore forward Shraee Harrison, the team has a tremendous athlete who can grab a rebound in traffic, one of the more vital areas of the high school game since players are fighting for loose balls on seemingly every other possession.
“Shraee is the most athletic player we’ve had here in several years,” Kaplansky said. “He gives us a wealth of athleticism, and we’re going to have to take advantage of that.”
As usual, the Balers will rely on balanced scoring, tough defense, solid rebounding and cohesive play. It’s a tried and true formula that has worked for many years.
“We pride ourselves on sharing the ball and taking advantage of the (typical) Hollister kids’ work ethic,” Kaplansky said.
If the Balers can replicate the hustle, determination and focus displayed on a consistent basis by last year’s team, a repeat title run isn’t out of the question.
“The guys overachieved a lot last year, and because of that we’ll have a target on our backs as defending league champions,” Kaplansky said. “It’s going to be hard to maintain that level of play, but hopefully we can do it.”
